So, you’re looking for an outdoor wheeled toy for your toddler.
Whether they’re struggling through the ‘terrible twos’ or they’re already nursery age and growing up fast, keeping tots entertained can be hard work.
If you want a more exciting alternative to a traditional tricycle that’s still safe for toddlers, some of the most popular options include balance bikes and go-karts.
A balance bike is basically a bicycle without pedals – small children can learn how to balance on a bike by pushing off and coming to a stop using their feet.
While two-wheeled balance bikes allow toddlers to glide along at a slower speed, go-karts are typically four-wheeled bikes or buggies that are propelled by pedals.
If you’re not sure whether a balance bike or go-kart would be best for your child, this blog weighs up the important factors – safety, skills, and age suitability – to help you decide.
Read on to compare these ride-on toys and choose a style your little one will love!
Safety Features
Safety is always the most important factor when it comes to toys for little kids, so it’s understandable that a parent might worry whether certain features are appropriate.
Fortunately, both balance bikes and go-karts are designed to be safe for children.
Balance Bike Safety
Balance bikes are made with lightweight metal frames that are easy for small children to control, despite their low body weight. Due to the lack of pedals, children are unlikely to achieve speeds as fast as a regular bike.
While gliding along on the balance bike, kids can use the handlebars to steer and place their feet safely on integrated footrests. Some models include a handbrake that will help the child come to a stop if they feel like they’re moving too quickly.
Go-Kart Safety
Go-karts offer more stability on different types of terrain thanks to their low seats and the distribution of weight across four wheels. They can move as fast as the child can pedal, which is likely to be quicker than a balance bike.
The specific safety features of a go-kart can vary between brands and models. For example, leading manufacturer BERG makes push-along and foot-to-floor cars that look like tricycles, but also small classic go-karts with steering wheels and brakes.
Skill Development
Children do a lot of growing between the ages of 2 and 4 years old, so any toys they play with should not only be safe, but should also help them to develop important motor skills.
Each type of wheeled toy encourages child development in different ways.
Balance Bike Skills
As their name suggests, the point of balance bikes is to help kids develop their balance and coordination until they feel ready to ride an actual bike with pedals.
They’re much easier to use and transport than outdated bikes with stabilisers or training wheels, which can also make children feel self-conscious. Instead, they can move confidently and freely on a balance bike while they get used to the positioning and steering.
Balance bikes are essentially a safe learning tool that allow children to develop their stability, core strength, and leg muscles as they walk, push, and glide.
Go-Kart Skills
Driving a pedal go-kart is more complicated than pushing a balance bike, so it’s also more demanding physically and mentally, with more skills required.
With a larger frame and faster movement, controlling a go-kart takes more strength, spatial awareness, and coordination to accelerate, steer, and brake. This will help children to improve their physical fitness and agility, as well as their decision-making skills.
However, while this is true of direct drive go-karts, foot-to-floor versions are closer in style to a balance bike that needs to be pushed along, but with four wheels.
Age Ranges
A significant element of what makes a wheeled toy safe and appropriate for a child is whether they are in the age range and at the basic skill level the product was designed for.
More so than age, the toy’s suitability will depend on the child’s height and weight.
Balance Bike Ages
The average balance bike should be suitable for children from 2 years old to around 5 or 6 years old, with adjustable saddles to be comfortable for heights from 90cm to 120cm.
As always, this depends on the specific model. For example, BERG also manufactures balance bikes alongside go-karts, with MOOV models designed for 2-year-olds who weigh up to 20kg and the Biky range for children aged 2.5–5 years old who weigh up to 30kg.
Balance bikes are therefore most suited to smaller children around 2–3 years old, who are more likely to upgrade to a bigger and faster wheeled toy in the future.
Go-Kart Ages
As they’re designed to grow with children as they get older, braver, and more skilled, go-karts have more diverse age ranges – though the average height range is around the same.
Again, using BERG as an example, there are foot-to-floor GO and Go2 models for tots aged 10–30 months old, then small Buzzy go-karts for kids from 2–5 years old weighing up to 30kg. For slightly older children, the Reppy range is for 2.5–6 year olds weighing up to 40kg.
Once they’re past the toddler years and well into their early school years, there are plenty of other go-kart ranges with more advanced features to choose from, too.
Should I get a balance bike or go-kart for my child?
Now you know more about the differences between balance bikes and go-karts, you should have a better understanding of which one would suit your child’s age, height, and weight range.
Both wheeled toys have their own benefits and come in an assortment of colours, with a variety of accessories to enhance your child’s experience. Ultimately, the best option depends on your toddler’s individual needs and how long you expect them to use it for.
If you still aren’t sure, the good news is that you can often try before you buy. Why not test out BERG go-karts and balance bikes at the biggest outdoor display site of play equipment in the UK, run by trusted suppliers Wicken Toys?
Here, you can let your little one have a go on different models under supervision, so you can find their favourite and get advice from the experts before you place an order!
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